Feb. 19, 1952 - USS Shelton (DD 790) and Taupo, a New Zealand frigate, destroyed 45 enemy sampans off the east coast of North Korea. A few sampans made it to the beach only to be captured by a company of South Korea Marines commanded by 1st Lt. Joseph Bartos, USMC.

Aug. 17, 1955 - Admiral Arleigh A. ("31-knot") Burke became the 15th Chief of Naval Operations. He served in that position for three terms.

Feb. 20, 1962 - USS Noa (DD 841) recovered Lt.Col. John H. Glenn, Jr, USMC, after he made three orbits of the earth in Friendship 7. He traveled 81,000 miles at an altitude of 162 miles in 4 hours and 55 minutes.

Oct. 22-28, 1962 - USS Gearing (DD 710), USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. (DD 850), and USS John R. Pierce (DD 753) were among the numerous ships that "quarantined" Cuba to prevent further construction of Soviet nuclear missile on the Cuban mainland. The Cuban Missile Crisis ended with Russia removing all missiles, bombers and equipment out of Cuba on October 28.

Aug. 2, 1964 - USS Maddox (DD 731) was attacked by three North Vietnamese patrol boats in international waters of the Tonkin Gulf about 30 miles off the coast of North Vietnam. Maddox eluded two torpedoes and sank one of the enemy boats.

Dec. 23, 1966 - USS O'Brien (DD 725) was hit by shore batteries north of Dong Hoi. This marked the first time a U.S. vessel took a direct hit since the beginning of the Vietnam conflict.

June 2, 1969 - USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754) was cut in two by Melbourne (R 21), an Australian aircraft carrier, in the South China Sea. The ships were involved in SEATO naval exercises. Evans lost 74 of her 273 men.